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| England at its finest: Derwent Water, the Lake District |
Returning home for a period after time away (serving and surfing in the Gambia), I fully expect people to ask lots of questions. I also accept that some people won’t so much - they’re just not that interested. That’s fine. But the majority of British people are very British and polite and show their interest by asking questions.
However, some are considerably better questions than others…
The Good
Here are some of the better and more interesting questions:Q: What have you noticed as different / shocking on returning to the UK?
A: How orderly everyone and everything is; how you can drive for hours and not see any police checkpoints; how upset and divided so many people are by the political situation; how differently people treat their children compared to in the Gambia; how differently Christians tend to think about alcohol compared to the Gambia; how lovely and refreshing the cool weather is; etc etc…
Q: What do you tend to eat in the Gambia?
A: Lots of rice, many and varied fresh fish, chicken (once one of our own), way more nuts and spice than I used to, lots of fresh fruit, sadly no pork (I’ve made up for it since being back here!).
Q: What’s your dog (Rufus) like?
A: Hilarious; much loved (by me, but not strangers!); trained a bit; sometimes obedient; got a big bark; growing quickly; unsure about the sea; terrifies most of the locals (he is partly for security); very soft deep down. Not obese, unlike so many dogs I’ve seen in England!
Q: What have you been most thankful for?
A: God’s faithfulness, constancy, provision, love and perfect friendship; Mama; Pastor Steven; the gospel of Jesus; enjoyable and urgent work to do; the beach; Rufus.
Q: What’s the most dangerous situation you’ve been in?
A: Probably the riot police and tear gas incident…
Q: What can we do better to support you?
A: Thank you!! (It depends who you are…)
Q: Are you looking forward to going back?
A: Yes, very much. It’s been wonderfully refreshing being back in the UK, and that refreshment and encouragement really spur me on to carry on in the Gambia.
So I’m always very happy to talk about my experience so far in the Gambia, the work there, the needs and opportunities and dreams and hopes and all that. And I’m also really happy to talk about more everyday things, which I sometimes forget can be quite interesting too.
The Bad
But it does baffle me how bad and impossible some other questions are! For example…
Q: How’s the Gambia?
A: Er…. still there!?
Q: How’s Africa?
(Oh wow.)
Q: How’s the year been?
A: Well... probably the most eventful, stressful, thrilling, wonderful, complicated, mixed, significant year of my life. Do you want to sit down for hours to counsel me about it?? No - thought as much.
I really don’t want to be too precious or sensitive about things. But maybe this will help you next time you bump into a returning missionary. If they’re anything like me, they’ll appreciate the more unusual and interesting questions. Keep a couple up your sleeve.
I’m so thankful for a few trusted close friends, with whom I meet (/call from the Gambia) regularly to share honestly about our ups and downs, struggles, challenges, joys, sins, hopes, dreams, fears. I need them - and they need me - to keep asking ‘ugly’ questions like:
Q: Where have you messed up?
Q: What have you learned about our Father God from your mistakes and sins?
Q: What have you learned about your heart from those things?
Q: How can we help each other to change, in the light of the gospel of God’s grace, empowered by his Spirit inside us?
Do you have people who have your permission to ask you those kinds of questions in love? I highly recommend it.
So - those good questions: keep ‘em coming.
Those bad questions: I understand… But try to think of better ones!
Those ugly questions: big thanks to my close friends.
A: Er…. still there!?
Q: How’s Africa?
(Oh wow.)
Q: How’s the year been?
A: Well... probably the most eventful, stressful, thrilling, wonderful, complicated, mixed, significant year of my life. Do you want to sit down for hours to counsel me about it?? No - thought as much.
I really don’t want to be too precious or sensitive about things. But maybe this will help you next time you bump into a returning missionary. If they’re anything like me, they’ll appreciate the more unusual and interesting questions. Keep a couple up your sleeve.
The Ugly
These are not for everyone - you don’t all have permission to ask me these! But in this instance, ugly means good. Because occasionally I need the ugly questions to be asked too - as we all do.I’m so thankful for a few trusted close friends, with whom I meet (/call from the Gambia) regularly to share honestly about our ups and downs, struggles, challenges, joys, sins, hopes, dreams, fears. I need them - and they need me - to keep asking ‘ugly’ questions like:
Q: Where have you messed up?
Q: What have you learned about our Father God from your mistakes and sins?
Q: What have you learned about your heart from those things?
Q: How can we help each other to change, in the light of the gospel of God’s grace, empowered by his Spirit inside us?
Do you have people who have your permission to ask you those kinds of questions in love? I highly recommend it.
So - those good questions: keep ‘em coming.
Those bad questions: I understand… But try to think of better ones!
Those ugly questions: big thanks to my close friends.
